CVE-2024-26994

Local kernel crash via oversized Speakup word

Published May 1, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Buffer overrun in Linux Speakup from 2.6.37 allows local users to crash the kernel by placing a word longer than 256 characters on a large console. The word-scanning logic in drivers/accessibility/speakup/main.c advances through console text without stopping before its fixed word buffer is exhausted. The condition requires local control of an unusually large console and long uninterrupted text; triggering it interrupts the running system.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overrun in Linux Speakup from 2.6.37 allows local users to crash the kernel by placing a word longer than 256 characters on a large console. The word-scanning logic in drivers/accessibility/speakup/main.c advances through console text without stopping before its fixed word buffer is exhausted. The condition requires local control of an unusually large console and long uninterrupted text; triggering it interrupts the running system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-26994
Published
May 1, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 1, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.6.37
  2. Affected versionversion=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <0d130158db29f5e0b3893154908cf618896450a8
  3. Affected versionversion=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <0efb15c14c493263cb3a5f65f5ddfd4603d19a76
  4. Affected versionversion=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <6401038acfa24cba9c28cce410b7505efadd0222
  5. Affected versionversion=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <756c5cb7c09e537b87b5d3acafcb101b2ccf394f
  6. Affected versionversion=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <89af25bd4b4bf6a71295f07e07a8ae7dc03c6595
  7. Affected versionversion=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <8defb1d22ba0395b81feb963b96e252b097ba76f
  8. Affected versionversion=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <8f6b62125befe1675446923e4171eac2c012959c
  9. Affected versionversion=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <c8d2f34ea96ea3bce6ba2535f867f0d4ee3b22e1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.37; version=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <0d130158db29f5e0b3893154908cf618896450a8; version=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <0efb15c14c493263cb3a5f65f5ddfd4603d19a76; version=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <6401038acfa24cba9c28cce410b7505efadd0222; version=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <756c5cb7c09e537b87b5d3acafcb101b2ccf394f; version=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <89af25bd4b4bf6a71295f07e07a8ae7dc03c6595; version=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <8defb1d22ba0395b81feb963b96e252b097ba76f; version=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <8f6b62125befe1675446923e4171eac2c012959c; version=c6e3fd22cd538365bfeb82997d5b89562e077d42 <c8d2f34ea96ea3bce6ba2535f867f0d4ee3b22e1

Published CVSS scores

5.9CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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